Automatic laundry apparatus having super wash means



1955 G. n. PHILLIPS ETAL 3,197,979

AUTOMATIC LAUNDRY APPARATUS HAVING SUPER WASH MEANS Filed Aug. 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 1 67; @6017 Pfii'llkz (fame-5J4 j c'eflof- 1965 e. D. PHILLIPS ETAL 3,197,979

AUTOMATIC LAUNDRY APPARATUS HAVING SUPER WASH MEANS Filed Aug. 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AYMss @II/IZW M g 5% g ATTORNEYS United States Patent f AUTGMATIC LAUNDRY APPARATUS HAVENG SUPER WASH MEANS Guy Dean Phillips and James A. Tichenor, St. Joseph, Mich, assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, St. Joseph, Mich, a corporation of Eelaware Filed Aug. 8, 1963, Set. No. 306,880 3 Claims. (Cl. 68-12) This invention relates to apparatus for automatically laundering .a batch of materials through a programmed sequence of a cycle which is particularly characterized by exposure of the materials to a Washing cycle including the use of a concentrated laundry liquid, for example, subjecting the materials to agitation and soaking in the presence of a laundry liquid having a relatively high concentration of soap or detergent preliminary to a laundering procedure in the presence of a laundry liquid having a lower, normal concentration of soap or detergent.

It is an object of the invention to provide a laundering apparatus for efiecting special steps to improve the washa-bility of presently known automatic laundering cycles.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for automatically cycling a batch of materials through a series of sequenced steps wherein the materials are subjected to agitation and soaking in a laundry liquid having a relatively high concentration of soap or detergent as compared to conventional detergent solutions.

More specifically, the object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for automatically laundering a batch of materials through a sequentially programmed cycle including subjecting the materials to agitation in a laundry liquid solution having a higher than normally recommended concentration of soap or detergent, soaking the materials in the concentrated solution allowing the heavy dirt particles to settle to the bottom of the container, draining a portion of the concentrated solution and the heavy dirt particles from the container of the materials, adding a quantity of fresh washing fluid to the container to dilute the concentrated solution to a recommended normal soap or detergent solution, agitating the materials in this resultant solution, thereafter rinsing the soap or detergent from the materials with fresh liquid and then separating the liquid from the materials in preparation for air drying thereof.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the present inventionwill become manifest to those versed in the art from the following description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which an exemplary structure capable of practicing the steps of the methods contemplated is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings: I

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a washing machine capable of practicing the steps of the methods contemplated by the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a circuit diagram of one control system which may be employed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a sequence chart illustrating the operational characteristics of the presettable sequential control means.

As shown on the drawings:

In FIGURE 1, a vertical axis laundry machine is indicated generally at and comprises a cabinet 11 provided with a lid 12 and a back 13 on which is mounted a control panel 14 including a presettable sequential control means 16 for operating the machine automatically through a programmed schedule of washing, rinsing and extracting periods.

A foraminous container or basket 17 is mounted on a 3,197,979 Patented Aug. 3, 1965 spin tube 18 and is driven at an extraction or spin speed by a drive motor 21 as controlled by a drive and brake mechanism 19. The basket 17 is mounted in an outer tub or tank 22 and clothes contained Within the machine are agitated by an agitator 23. Liquid is delivered into the machine by means of a hose 26 which communicates with a water inlet solenoid 56 and a water inlet 28 for introducing water into the basket. If desired, an air gap vacuum break 29 may also be provided.

The machine 10 is provided with a bi-directional flow pump 33 which operates whenever the drive motor 21 is energized. An agitation solenoid 63 (FIGURE 2), in addition to controlling the mechanical movement of the agitator 23, also controls the direction of water flow from the pump 23. During the wash cycle, the agitation solenoid 63 is energized and the pump is conditioned to pump in the direction from hose 34 to hose 36 and thus acts to hold the water in the tub. At the end of the wash cycle, the agitation solenoid 63 is de-energized and the pump is conditioned to withdraw Water from the tub 22 through outlet 38, and through hose 36 to hose 34 to the drain.

In FIGURE 2, reference numerals 51 and 52 represent the two sides of a power source used to energize the assembly. The various cycle portions are programmed through the operation of a timer motor 53 having a series of cams which operate various timer switch cont-acts identified in the circuit diagrams. Timer contact 54 is open during the water fill portions of the cycle and closed during portions of cycle where it is necessary for the timer motor 53 to be energized without the water level switch being in the full position 61. Water is introduced into the tub of the machine by the operation of a water inlet solenoid 56 controlled by a timer contact 57.

The water level switch 58 has a wide reset differential. When the liquid level in the tank rises to a predetermined fill level, switch arm 55 moves from contact 59 to contact 61; however, when the liquid is removed from the tank, switch arm does not return to contact 59 until the liquid level has dropped to a level approximately onehalf to two-thirds the predetermined fill level.

The agitator 23 is controlled through the operation of an agitation control solenoid 63 which is in series with a timer contact 64. The drive motor 21 is energized through another timer contact 66. When the circuit is first energized timer contact 54 is open. The water level switch arm 55, now engaging the contact 59, permits energization of the water inlet solenoid 56 through timer contact 57, and water enters the machine and eventually causes the water level switch arm 55 to move from the position shown in FIGURE 2 into contact with the contact 61 when filled to a predetermined level. The action of the arm 55 thereupon energizes the timer motor 53, the agitation control solenoid 63 through timer contact 64 and the drive motor 21 through timer contact 66. After completion of a drain cycle, the water level switch arm 55 moves to contact 59 and the spin operation is controlled via a spin solenoid 63 energized through timer contact 69 and contact 59 of the water level control switch 58.

In accordance with the principles of the present in vention, a two-speed driving motor can be employed and the cams associated with the timer motor are provided with multiple camming areas, thereby permitting the machine to be operated through separate selected programs of washing, rinsing and extracting periods, not only at different separate speeds of washing and extracting, but also in periods of different duration. Although the present invention can be employed in many variations of the above-mentioned various programs, only one program will be described herein to illustrate the invention and although many of the various types of laundering agents can be used in the employment of this invention,

the term detergent will be used hereafter in the description in reference to the additive used.

. When the machine master switch 50 is closed, the ma chine is started on a filling period whereupon the washer will fill to the predetermined water level and detergent will be added automatically (through an additive dispenser 62 energized through timer contact 60) in a greater amount than is required to produce a washing solution of normally recommended detergent concentration. While the details of the dispenser per se form no part of this invention and are not shown in FIGURE 1, dispenser 62 can be of a conventional single shot or multiple charge type located over the tub 22 in such a manner as to dispense the required detergent charge into that fluid container at the required time in the cycle. For example, it is contemplated by the present invention that detergent be added in twice the recommended amount for a normal Wash load, thereby producing a laundry liquid solution with a detergent concentration higher than that recommended for a normal wash load. It should be appreciated that the required amount of detergent normally used varies with the strength of the particular brands used.

The detergent concentration is commonly expressed by persons knowledgeable in the art by the weight relationship of the detergent to the liquid in which it is dissolved; thus, the detergent concentration is commonly referred to in percentages. The amount of detergent that the manufacturer normally recommends for a normal wash load usually results in a 0.20 to 0.25 percent detergent concentration; thus the relatively high detergent concentration referred to herein would be a detergent concentration of 0.40 to 0.50%.

When the predetermined water level has been reached, agitation begins and the batch of materials within the treatment zone are agitated in the presence of a laundry liquid solution of a detergent concentration higher than recommended for a normal load. Such wash agitation continues for a discrete period (portion 70, FIGURE 3) of time and scheduled interval of time units. As soon as the timed period 70 ends, timer switch 66 opens and the machine stops and a pause 71 occurs for a discrete time interval which allows sufiicient time for the heavy dirt particles removed during the agitation in the relatively high concentrated detergent solution to gravitationally settle.

In the machine illustrated, the agitation period 70 may occur through a six minute time interval and the socalled pause period 71 consists of an approximate two minute non-agitated soak, during which time the dirt particles settle to the bottom of the laundry liquid solution.

After the pause or initial soak period 71 the timer advances to a drain portion 72 and switch 66 closes thus energizing the motor 21 through the full level contact 61 of the water level switch 58. Timer switch 54. is closed and switch 49 is open at this time. Since the agitate solenoid is de-energized, the pump 33 withdraws the concentrated wash liquid from the tub 22, through hose 36 and hose 34 to the drain until the reset water level of the water level switch 53 has been reached. The Water level switch 58 is so constructed to reset with 'a water level approximately equal to one-half to two-thirds the full predetermined fill setting. level recedes to this lower reset level during the drain portion 72., switch arm 55 of the water level switch 58 moves to contact 59 de-energizing drive motor es. Sincethe pump 33 draws from the lower part of the tub 22 through outlet 38, the settled out dirt will also be removed. The machine continues to pause during which time the clothes are subjected to an additional 'nonagitated soak period until the timer 53 advances into fill and agitate portion 73.

Thus, when the water As the timer motor advances into agitate portion 73, the machine again refills with fresh water to the predetermined fill level, thereby diluting the concentrated laundry liquid solution to a recommended detergent concentration for a normal wash load. Thereafter, the machine continues through the wash agitate portion 73 at this normally recommended detergent concentration and is followed by a rinse and centrifugal extraction sequence '74 preparatory to air drying of the fabrics as is well known in the art.

although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that we wish to embody withinthe scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

ll. Apparatus for automatically laundering a batch of materials through a programmed sequence comprising,

a liquid-receiving container having agitating and centrifuging means disposed on a vertical axis for containing washing and rinsing liquid and materials to be laundered,

a presettable sequential controller,

wash liquid injecting means regulated by said controller for charging said container with liquid to a first normal level, detergent adding means regulated by said controller for adding a sutlicient quantity of detergent to the normal level of washing liquid to produce a first wash solution of high detergent concentration equal to 0.40 to 0.50 percent detergent by weight,

agitating means regulated by said controller to agitate the materials in said first wash solution,

said controller having means stopping the machine and effecting a pause while dirt settles out in said first wash solution, and

drain means,

said controller having means actuating said drain means for draining a quantity of said first washing solution from the bottom of said container to remove the settled out dirt particles,

said controller having means for actuating said wash liquid injecting means to add fresh washing liquid to said container for restoring it to said initial liquid quantity to thereby produce a second wash solution having a detergent concentration equal to 0.20 to 0.25 percent detergent by 7 weight, said controller having means to complete a normal programmed sequence in a laundering cycle.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said drain means comprising a pump to assist in removing liquid from the container.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized'by said apparatus having a two-speed driving motor and said presettable sequential controller having camming means for effecting separate selected programs of washing, rinsing and extracting periods at different speeds and for periods of different duration.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,709,908 6/55 Altorfer et al 68-12 X 2,841,003 7/58 Conlee 68l2 3,099,022 7/63 Geschka et a1. 8-458 FOREIGN PATENTS 209,43 6 7/ 57 Australia. 711,999 7/ 54 Great Britain.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM I. PRICE, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY LAUNDERING A BATCH OF MATERIALS THROUGH A PROGRAMMED SEQUENCE COMPRISING, A LIQUID-RECEIVING CONTAINER HAVING AGITATING AND CENTRIFUGING MEANS DISPOSED ON A VERTICAL AXIS FOR CONTAINING WASHING AND RISING LIQUID AND MATERIALS TO BE LAUNDERED, A PRESETTABLE SEQUENTIAL CONTROLLER, WASH LIQUID INJECTING MEANS REGULATED BY SAID CONTROLLER FOR CHARGING SAID CONTAINER WITH LIQUID TO A FIRST NORMAL LEVEL, DETERGENT ADDING MEANS REGULATED BY SAID CONTROLLER FOR ADDING A SUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF DETERGENT TO THE NORMAL LEVEL OF WASHING LIQUID TO PRODUCE A FIRST WASH SOLUTION OF HIGH DETERGENT CONCENTRATION EQUAL TO 0.40 TO 0.50 PERCENT DETERGENT BY WEIGHT, AGITATING MEANS REGULATED BY SAID CONTROLLER TO AGITATE THE MATERIALS IN SAID FIRST WASH SOLUTION, SAID CONTROLLER HAVING MEANS STOPPING THE MACHINE AND EFFECTING A PUSE WHILE DIRT SETTLES OUT IN SAID FIRST WASHG SOLUTION, AND DRAIN MEANS, SAID CONTROLLER HAVING MEANS ACTUATING SAID DRAIN MEANS FOR DRAINING A QUANTITY OF SAID FIRST WASH SOLUTION FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER TO REMOVE THE SETTLED OUT DIRT PARTICLES, SAID CONTROLLER HAVING MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID WASH LIQUID INJECTING MEANS TO ADD FRESH WASHLIQUID TO SAID CONTAINER FOR RESTORING IT TO SAID INITIAL LIQUID QUANTITY TO THEREBY PRODUCE A SECOND WASH SOLUTION HAVING DETERGENT BY TRATION EQUAL TO 0.20 TO 0.25 PERCENT DETERGENT BY WEIGHT, SAID CONTROLLER HAVING MEANS TO COMPLETE A NORMAL PROGRAMMED SEQUENCE IN A LUNDERING CYCLE. 